Festive Footfall Flips: UK Retail Sees Unexpected Post-Christmas Surge

Predictions regarding UK footfall during the crucial pre- and post-Christmas period proved largely inaccurate, prompting a potential reassessment of festive strategies for 2026. Initial expectations for ‘Super Saturday’ (December 20th) were not met, with footfall declining by 6.9% compared to the previous year, potentially due to Christmas falling on a Thursday.

Boxing Day, however, emerged as the strongest trading day of the festive season, experiencing a 4.4% year-on-year increase in footfall according to MRI Software data – the largest increase in a decade. However, this contrasts with figures from Sensormatic Solutions ShopperTrak Analytics, which indicated a 1.3% year-on-year decrease in footfall on the Friday following Christmas, suggesting a lack of post-Christmas momentum. These conflicting reports highlight the complexities of interpreting recent retail trends.

Prior to Christmas Day, shopping activity intensified significantly in the week leading up to December 25th. While Super Saturday underperformed, Monday, December 22nd, saw a substantial 38.6% week-on-week surge in footfall, particularly on high streets (+37.4%). Although Monday’s overall footfall was marginally down year-on-year (-0.4%), the increase indicated shoppers were making decisive last-minute purchases.

The trend continued on Tuesday, December 23rd, with footfall rising another 27.4% week-on-week, despite being 2.3% lower than the same day in 2023. Shopping centres experienced the most significant gains during this period, and overall store visits improved by 42.7% compared to the December average. Christmas Eve proved to be the peak day, with a 4.7% week-on-week and 1.4% year-on-year increase, with retail parks and shopping centres outperforming high streets as shoppers prioritized convenience.

Despite the traditional slowdown associated with Christmas Day store closures, UK retail destinations demonstrated resilience. Overall footfall for the period between December 21st and 27th was 3.9% higher year-on-year, suggesting the later placement of Christmas in the week provided shoppers with more time for last-minute shopping. However, week-on-week footfall decreased by 12.8%, primarily due to Christmas Day itself and the subsequent quieter trading days.

Boxing Day saw a slow start in the morning, but rebounded strongly, becoming a standout trading day. MRI Software reported a 4.4% year-on-year increase across all UK retail destinations, with retail parks leading the way (+8.8%), followed by high streets (+3.6%) and shopping centres (+2.1%). This suggests shoppers were eager to begin their post-Christmas shopping earlier than in previous years. However, Sensormatic’s data showed a daytime decline, indicating evening openings were crucial to the overall positive result.

Andy Sumpter, EMEA Retail Consultant at Sensormatic Solutions, noted the unpredictable nature of the festive trading period, characterized by shaky consumer confidence and spending hesitancy. He emphasized that while Boxing Day remains important, its traditional format is evolving due to early discounting, online shopping, and some retailers choosing to remain closed on December 26th. The days of large queues outside stores on Boxing Day may be over, but the extended period remains strategically significant, particularly for retailers aiming to recover from slower demand earlier in the month.

The positive momentum continued into Saturday, December 27th, with footfall up 1.6% year-on-year, led by high streets (+2.4%) and retail parks (+2.1%). Shoppers appeared to combine sales shopping with dining, leisure, and social activities. Shopping centres experienced a slight dip (-0.6%) in footfall. Across the weekend (December 27th-28th), year-on-year footfall increased by 4.6% across all UK retail destinations.

Into Monday, December 29th, high streets maintained their momentum, with footfall remaining 1% higher year-on-year. MRI Software also revealed that Tuesday, December 30th, was busier than New Year’s Eve 2023. Week-on-week footfall fell by 16.9%, with high streets down 14%, retail parks falling 22.3%, and shopping centres seeing a rise of 17.7%. Overall, footfall was up 15.5% compared to the previous year, with high streets rising 12.4%, retail parks up 16.8%, and shopping centres up 20.7%.